James

Etymology

The English New Testament form of Jacob, from Middle English James, from Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iacomus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb), from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב‎ (Yaʿăqōḇ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒeɪmz/
• Rhymes: -eɪmz

Proper noun

James

1. (biblical) The twentieth book of the New Testament of the Bible, the general epistle of James.
2. One of two Apostles, James the Greater and James the Less, often identified with James, brother of Jesus.
   • 1611, The Holy Bible, Conteyning the Old Testament, and the New. Newly Translated out of the Originall Tongues: & with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Reuised, by His Maiesties Speciall Comandement. Appointed to be Read in Churches (King James Version), imprinted at London: By Robert Barker, printer to the Kings Most Excellent Maiestie, OCLC 964384981, Matthew 10:1–3:

     Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

3. A male given name popular since the Middle Ages. Also a common middle name.
   • 1810, Walter Scott, The Lady of the Lake; a Poem, Edinburgh: Printed [by James Ballantyne and Co.] for John Ballantyne and Co.; London: Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and William Miller, OCLC 6632529, canto VI (The Guard-room), stanza XXVIII, page 286:

     […] And Normans call me James Fitz-James. / Thus watch I o'er insulted laws, / Thus learn to right the injured cause. […]

   • 1979 Charles Kuralt, Dateline America, Harcourt Brace Jovanocich, →ISBN, page 184:

     Heaven only knows why a man with a strong biblical name like James wants to be a president named Jimmy.

4. An English patronymic surname​.

Anagrams

• Semaj

Etymology

From English James, the English New Testament form of Jacob, from Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iacomus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb), from Biblical Hebrew יַעֲקֹב‎ (Yaʿăqōḇ).

Proper noun

James

1. a male given name

Etymology

From English James in the 19th century.

Proper noun

James

1. A male given name.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈd͡ʒeːms]
• Hyphenation: James

Proper noun

James

1. James

Alternative forms

• Ȝame, Gemes, Iam, Iames, Iamys, Iame, Ieme

Etymology

From Old French James, from Vulgar Latin Iacomus, spoken and altered pronunciation of Latin Iacobus, from Ancient Greek Ἰάκωβος (Iákōbos), from Ἰακώβ (Iakṓb), from Hebrew יַעֲקֹב‎ (Yaʿăqōḇ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdʒaːməs/, /dʒaːmz/, /ˈdʒɛːm(ə)s/, /ˈdʒaːm(ə)/

Proper noun

James

1. James the Greater or James the Less (apostles)
2. James (a male given name)
3. James (a surname)

Etymology

From English James in the 19th century.

Proper noun

James c (genitive James)

1. A male given name.

References

Statistics Sweden: 5548 males with the given name James living in Sweden on December 31st, 2013, with the highest frequency so far in 2013. Accessed on 12 April 2014.